Neulasta

rose20
rose20 Member Posts: 258
edited May 2011 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Has anyone here taken Neulastan? My brother is receiving this this morning.

Comments

  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #2
    had Neupogen similar but not the same
    Hi Rose,
    Only had experience with Neupogen which is similar but not sure if it is exactly the same. It was given when I got Taxotere chemo for post op positive node. It was given the day after the Taxotere and I got severe bone pain afterwards like 4 days or so. The nurses had me take Clariten 1 day before, the day of and the day after. That lessened the pain. I had to take oxycodone when it was going on. I am sure someone will have had Neulasta. good luck to your brother!! take care,
    Donna70
  • cher76
    cher76 Member Posts: 292
    #3
    Rickie just received a shot
    Rickie just received a shot of that today. Nurse explained that it is suppose to help your white blood count from dropping. He is back on erbitux and Irinotecan. Also received magnesium, iron, and Sandostatin (for diarrhea) today. Had chemo yesterday.
  • Callaloo
    Callaloo Member Posts: 135
    #4
    I received it in between chemo treatments
    It caused no problems for me, and enabled me to stay on my chemo schedule, even though my white blood count dropped so low. I think I had 2 or 3 Neulasta shots. Without the shots I would not have been able to continue chemo. Thank goodness for insurance as the shots are thousands of dollars each.
  • rose20
    rose20 Member Posts: 258
    #5
    Thank you..

    Thank you to all who responded. My brother was doing well (we thought) but this morning when he called he was in much pain. He said it was all over his body and he didn't get no sleep last night but was going to try to get some rest today.
    He called a little while ago and said he did get to finally go to sleep and he nows feels better than he did.
    All I know to do is pray and I know for those of us that believe in prayer we know that is the most important but it just seems at times we are so helpless especially when we see those we love in so much suffering. You just want it to end like right now.
    May God hold each and every one of you in His loving arms.
  • cher76
    cher76 Member Posts: 292
    #6
    rose20 said:

    Thank you..

    Thank you to all who responded. My brother was doing well (we thought) but this morning when he called he was in much pain. He said it was all over his body and he didn't get no sleep last night but was going to try to get some rest today.
    He called a little while ago and said he did get to finally go to sleep and he nows feels better than he did.
    All I know to do is pray and I know for those of us that believe in prayer we know that is the most important but it just seems at times we are so helpless especially when we see those we love in so much suffering. You just want it to end like right now.
    May God hold each and every one of you in His loving arms.

    Rickie has also been having
    Rickie has also been having pain the last few days, don't know if it is the chemo, the Neulasta, or the other things he was given. He has had headaches during the day as well as during the night. He wears a fentynal patch, which usually helps, but when he has breakthrough pain he also takes some hydrocodone. This really seems to help. Don't know if your brother is on any pain meds, but he might want to ask about seeing a pain specialist to help him get it to be manageable. When we were at MDAnderson in February we had an appointment with the pain management center and it has been a tremendous help. Will keep you all in our prayers
    Cheryl
  • rose20
    rose20 Member Posts: 258
    #7
    cher76 said:

    Rickie has also been having
    Rickie has also been having pain the last few days, don't know if it is the chemo, the Neulasta, or the other things he was given. He has had headaches during the day as well as during the night. He wears a fentynal patch, which usually helps, but when he has breakthrough pain he also takes some hydrocodone. This really seems to help. Don't know if your brother is on any pain meds, but he might want to ask about seeing a pain specialist to help him get it to be manageable. When we were at MDAnderson in February we had an appointment with the pain management center and it has been a tremendous help. Will keep you all in our prayers
    Cheryl

    Hello Cheryl...
    Yes, they have had him on morphine and told him if the pain gets too severe to double that. He tries to go as long as he can without the morphine because that too has side effects. Sorry to hear about Rickie I will be praying for him and you also.
    What is a fentynal patch? Is that for pain?
  • cher76
    cher76 Member Posts: 292
    #8
    rose20 said:

    Hello Cheryl...
    Yes, they have had him on morphine and told him if the pain gets too severe to double that. He tries to go as long as he can without the morphine because that too has side effects. Sorry to hear about Rickie I will be praying for him and you also.
    What is a fentynal patch? Is that for pain?

    Fentanyl patch (Duragesic)
    Fentanyl patches are small patches that the dr. Prescribed to help with the bone pain Rickie was having. They come in different mg and the doctor prescribes the strength. Rickie started off with a 25 mg that we changed every 48 hours, then when his back was really hurting him they upped it to 50mg. Finally we settled with a 75mg that we change every 72 hours. This seems to help him the most. Occasionally when it gets worse he will take a very small dose of hydrocodone, mainly to help him sleep. Your brother may want to ask his doctor about it.
    Cheryl

Discussion Boards